NE OKC community garden prepares to sow seeds

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Seeds of hope will soon be planted in part of the metro once known as a food desert.

While there are no several grocery stores in northeast OKC there is also another "hands on" effort to feed the community.

"People are always like, 'It's really free?' So, they're hesitant to come," said LaTasha Timberlake.

If you drive down NE 20th and Lottie, don't blink or you'll miss the Lillian Timber Farms community garden.

In 2020, Timberlake named the gardens after her grandmother, Lillian Timberlake.

"She was the first introduction to me to helping understand our health and wellness with food," said Timberlake.

Now, her grandmother's face is the logo for the project.

Timberlake said she wanted to share the knowledge with her neighbors.

"Bring people together, bring people outside, but still in the back of my mind thinking about the food insecurity," said Timberlake.

The once vacant and private lot has gone through several seasons of change. A recent $9,000 grant is now helping the garden grow.

"We have peaches in the back and then cherries in the front," Timberlake said while pointing to new fruit trees. "They've already started to have some growth."

Since the renovations were recently completed, the gardens are pushing back their "Sunrise Work Party" to June 2. Then, they'll plant vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, kale, greens, onions, peppers and herbs.

It's a place for everyone, with raised herb beds for seniors and dirt for children.

They also have a way to pay it forward, a senior at Classen High School built them a "take what you need box" that will be filled with fresh produce.

"We do have houseless people that come not only just to get some of the produce, but also just learn some of the practices," said Timberlake.

It's also a place for sowing seeds of knowledge and hope with programs like Seedling Surrogates, Literacy in the Garden, and Watering Angels.

That's why Imelda Demy said she started volunteering.

"I also wanted to start my own garden in my own backyard. So this was a way for me to kind of dig in," said Demy. "Just knowing that this is benefiting others is the biggest part of it."

There is still more work to be done. Timberlake said she hopes to someday build a pergola to hold classes in the garden.

While the community is involved, volunteers are always needed.

"I would like to see definitely more involvement," said Demy.